328 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
although they have each a distinct language or 
dialect. Owing to the complete absence of beard 
and the custom of wearing the hair long, the 
younger men look remarkably 
like women ; but it will be seen 
that in the case of three of the 
younger men and women the 
features are exceedingly well- 
formed, and except for the slight 
obliquity of the eyes, there is 
little to distinguish them in this 
respect from many Europeans. 
The Uaupe Indians are, how- 
ever, among the finest of the 
South American tribes. 
The following extract from a 
letter to Mr. Bentham explains why Spruce could 
neither go farther up the river Uaupes nor remain 
at Sao Jeronymo as long as he would have done 
under more favourable conditions.] 
Fig. 28. — Yepadia, 
Tucano Indian, wife 
of Caali(20years old). 
To Mr. George Bentham 
San Carlos del Rio Negro, 
Jime 28, 1853. 
... I found it impracticable to ascend high on 
the Uaupes for several reasons, the first being the 
impossibility of getting up a large stock of paper 
and goods (in place of money) in a single small 
canoe, for only such can ascend a river full of 
cataracts ; and here I felt especially, what indeed 
has been a great lack ever since I left Para, the 
need of a trusty companion accustomed to naviga- 
tion and to manage the Indians. I had, besides. 
